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VMFA (AW) 121 re-dedicates ready room years after two Green Knights’ deaths

9 Jan 2006 | Lance Cpl. Kaitlyn M. Scarboro Marine Corps Air Station Miramar-EMS

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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- A decade after their death, pilots Danny A. “Popeye” D’Eredita and Mark R. “Chunx” Nickels were honored once again by their former squadron, VMFA (AW)-121 in a ceremony at Hangar 1.

Killed during a mission west of South Korea, Feb. 9 1997, the pilots were originally honored March 16, 1997 in a ceremony at the Hangar. A garden memorial was planted outside the Officer’s Club and the plaques still remain.

“Over the years, the plaques have been weather beaten and forgotten,” said Craft. “We felt it was important to do something in the squadron to remember them.”

A plaque with pictures of both Marines now hangs near the doorway of the squadron’s mission planning center known as the ready room.

The ready room is a place where the squadron members spend most of their days, preparing for flights, checking weather status and learning tactics. The squadron dedicated the ready room in memory of D’Eredita and Nickles who were known for being tactical, friendly and life-loving.  

“We wanted to put it in the ready room because it really defines who they were and defines what we do everyday,” said Lt. Col. Joseph A Craft, commanding officer of the squadron and former training officer of the deceased.

“They understood the significance of being brothers-in-arms,” continued Craft. “They embodied who we hope to be as a squadron. There’s no way that that plaque can even bear testament to the impact they had. I can tell you, their lives – and the way they lived them – spoke to me. It said to me, ‘watch your example, love life, and have fun.’

To his Marines in formation Craft added, “I want you to work hard every day to live up to the example they embody.”

Family and friends were present at the unveiling of the plaque and were honored by the remembrance of the long-lost loved ones.

“It’s so thoughtful,” said Pat Perl, D’Eredita’s aunt. “I speak for my sister (D’Eredita’s mother) because this was so painful for her.  I really do feel that Danny’s memory will live here forever. I am just so grateful. This shows us you really care.

POLICY

The most important starting point for an EMS* is the development of an environmental policy. ISO14001 requires local governments to implement their own environmental policy. The environmental policy acts as a basis for the environmental management system.

PLANNING

ISO14001 requires that an environmental management system is planned properly. It requires the organization to consider the following carefully: Environmental Aspects; Legal and Other Aspects; Objectives and Targets; and an Environmental Management Program.

IMPLEMENTATION

The two requirements for implementation of an EMS is to define, document, and communicate roles, responsibilities and authorities, and to allocate the resources needed to implement and control the EMS.

CHECKING

The key requirement in this EMS step is to regularly monitor and measure key characteristics of activities and operations that could have a significant impact on the environment. Changes to EMS procedures may become necessary in order to deal with nonconformances with the EMS, with mitigating environmental impacts, or corrective and preventive action.

REVIEW

The management review process ensure that information is collected to enable management to carry out proper review. Top management review the need for changes to policy, objectives and targets, and ensure that a commitment to continual improvement is being demonstrated.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar-EMS